The WAR ON BLOGS...in reaction to EasonGate

Monday, February 14, 2005

~9:30am~ EST
BLOGOSPHERE 5 vs. MSM 0: If you have read Hugh Hewitt's book BLOG then you already know that an Information Reformation is gearing up that is in fact quite similar to the Protestant Reformation.

Citizen journalists who know that the public longs more than anything to be told the truth of the matter are showing up "big-time" journalism where the establishment media has often gotten it wrong.

So far the Blogs are pitching shut out ball when it comes to stories that the media were all too ready to let die...

For instance?

Trent Lott - "Strom Thurmond for President"
Howell Raines and Jayson Blair - "The New York Times"
John Kerry - "The Magic Hat and Christmas in Cambodia"
Dan Rather - "MemoGate"
and now...
Eason Jordan - "troops target journalists"

The MSM being the predictable, slow reacting organism that they are now punching back.

I believe the story on Eason Jordan is the most disturbing to them primarily because many of them believed that because it had not vaulted into the mainstream conscience yet - that perhaps he could ride it out.

I am quite sure that even as I blog this morning from the Starbucks on the corner of Barclay and Broadway across the street from City Hall in NYC that the majority of folks here have not even heard of Eason Jordan much less what he said in Davos two weeks ago.

The point being this...blogs are here - and the decision makers are beginning to see the scoreboard before the entire game gets played out.

Those who were most upset with Jordan weren't even calling for his official ouster. We wanted to know THE FACTS on what he said. If what he said was in fact what he had been attributed - then his ouster was of course a logical next step.

But since we still have not settled the facts of the matter - those of us who seek them are not yet satisfied to let it die with Eason Jordan's departure from CNN.

These are concepts that are lost in the anti-blogger blather put out in the New York Times this morning. Michelle Malkin who straddles life as both a professional member of the fourth estate, and also as a citizen journalist (and most importantly - mommy) has issued (in both official press and blog) significant and articulate response to the Times attempt at discrediting blogs.

The point being that journalists should see themselves as the agitators that the Constitution guaranteed the protection of. To probe, question, and dig - in other words to find the facts - are what the Constitution wished to protect. The fact that the MSM now often times seems more pre-occupied with "self-protection" as opposed to the "public's right to know" is what has caused the immense interest in these little web-logs. Yes they are written sometimes by people in pajamas, bathrobes, or jeans and t-shirts, sometimes they have funny names. But in a free market - if they are willing to pursue the most accurate information and make it available when the MSM won't - then they have earned the right to be read, seen, and heard from.

For the New York Times, even the establishment at the WSJ or any other media to chirp, demean or otherwise attempt to discredit citizen journalism only serves to reinforce its need to exist - and simply motivates its purveyors to work harder, better, and even more quickly to fact-check the MSM in to oblivion.
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